Author Spotlight
Anne Willman
The East gym is filled with elementary school boys all dressed in new “Lancer Basketball Camp” T-shirts and basketball shorts that are sizes too large. From across the court, ten-year-old Zach Schneider spots a boy that he’d been afraid of on the basketball court throughout the camp. The boy that was always on the team that won. It was Vance Wentz. Wentz noticed Schneider from across the court, but wasn’t intimidated because he was about the same size as him. On the other side of the court, Wentz’s neighbor Chase Hanna plays with intensity during a drill.
Sophomore Chase Hanna has a talent for basketball but refuses to stick to one sport. He doesn’t wish to give up his other sport—golf.
From the first time Hanna picked up a basketball, he had an instant connection. While Hanna’s father was a tennis player growing up, Hanna did not share the same love. Instead he liked shooting a basketball and swinging a golf cub.
Hanna has always enjoyed basketball and became serious and decided that he was going to work hard in third grade. He did not want to stick to one sport as he grew older; Hanna wanted to continue to play golf.
“My grandfather taught me how to play at a nine hole course in Carthage, Illinois,” Hanna said.
Hanna spends most of the summer on the golf course. If it is in St. Louis or Memphis, Hanna travels to play in tournaments. This past summer, Hanna played 25 tournament days.
When Hanna has time to spare in the summer, he plays basketball.
“Coach Hair is very understanding,” Hanna said. “I make it to all of the basketball workouts and games when I am able to.”
Hanna continues to play in golf tournaments in the fall and tries to make it to East when possible for workouts. At the end of October, Hanna begins to transition to basketball. He begins to condition and practice his shooting.
Hanna works hard, trying to perfect each element of his game: shooting, defense, ball handling and rebounding.
“I think as a sophomore, I get the big picture about playing varsity,” Hanna said. “We have the drive to get better.”
Hanna plans to push himself harder and to bring the skills that are needed to win games. He wants to become a better defender and a more aggressive rebounder. Hanna loves the game, but does not see himself fit to play college basketball.
“A 6-foot white kid is not the type for college basketball,” Hanna said.
Hanna sees a better opportunity to play college golf. He said that he has more talent in golf than basketball.
“I don’t want to give up basketball,” Hanna said. “I want to be able to play two sports that I love.”
***
Zach Schneider
Standing on the pitching mound, sophomore Zach Schneider decides what he is going to throw. He know that he is the one person everyone is focusing on, he is in control.
“I didn’t like basketball when I first started playing,” Schneider said. “I was uncoordinated.”
Schneider liked pitching more than any other position. Baseball gave him the opportunity to be in charge and basketball didn’t provide that.
The more games he played in baseball and in other sports the more skilled he became in different areas. Experience helped Schneider to develop coordination and that eventually led him to like basketball.
The summer between 8th and 9th grade, Schneider had a coach that changed his feeling of basketball. His coach, Rodney Perry demonstrated how to play as a team.
“[Our team] did not have the most talent but our coach showed us how to play by sharing the ball,” Schneider said.
In 2009, the last time East went to the state semi-finals and played against Wichita Southeast, Schneider realized how fun it would be to play on varsity. Schneider saw the large crowd of people sitting in the bleachers and heard the loud roars of the fans. At that moment, he realized how exciting it would be to play on the varsity team.
“I got my height from my mom and dad,” Schneider said. “They both played four years of high school basketball.”
While Schneider can use his height inside, he has the skill to shoot. When competing on the court, Schneider can post up or take an outside shot.
Schneider does not feel the pressure this year.
“I have more games to prove myself compared to a senior,” Schneider said.
Schneider stays focused and he says that he has the quiet personality of the team. Schneider’s quiet demeanor helps him to be on top of his game, blocking out the chants and chaos of the fans.
“I know how to focus on basketball, the goal for me is to give 100 percent during the entire game,” Schneider said.
***
Vance Wentz
Nine-year-old Vance Wentz sits in the bleachers next to his father, mother and brother. Time is dwindling. There he watches the game intently, studying his favorite basketball player bend his knees and play defense. This is the person who inspired him—his cousin.
Wentz’s cousin, Jeff Blummer, a member of the Marysville High School varsity basketball team, runs down one side of the court. There is time enough for one more possession and the crowd is silently watching, studying each and every dribble. Marysville is down two points and has to make something happen. The ball is passed, and the shot is taken, Wentz’s cousin stands, staring at his teammate taking the shot, waiting for a result. The crowd watches as the ball soars through the air. It goes in, winning Marysville the state title. Wentz joins the crowd storming the court to congratulate the team.
“After seeing the final seconds of the game, it made me want to play basketball competitively,” Wentz said.
The game that his cousin won made all of the difference, the winning of the state title inspired Wentz to play and to play with determination.
“To win state, I need to bring my shooting game,” Wentz said. “I need to play really good defense and be a good rebounder.”
In the summer, Wentz practices individually three times a week and works on shooting for about one and a half hours a day.
As a returning varsity player, Wentz is back with confidence.
“This is my second year and the pressure is off,” Wentz said. “As a sophomore I have many games to improve and through that I will have more experience.”
Last year, Wentz started a gameday routine that he is continuing this year. After school, Wentz gets a turkey and cheese sandwich or meatball grinder from Subway and then eats it in the training room.
During practice and games, Wentz becomes serious. He shows little emotion on the court, his primary goal is to win. He uses his energy to play hard and do the best that he can do. In the locker room, Wentz enjoys to let down his guard and be less serious.
“There are a lot of funny guys on the team,” Wentz said. “I try to crack a joke and it doesn’t end up being very funny.”
Wentz would like to play in college after his hard work and dedication year round. He hopes that his summer team will help in the area of exposure for college scouts and teams.
“I would like to play wherever at this point,” Wentz said. “I am young and have time to develop to become a college player.”
Photo illustration by Grant Heinlein. Photos by Dan Stewart.
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